2 1/2 years in jail, probation for Pittsfield woman on drug, conspiracy charges

PITTSFIELD — A city woman who was caught riding in the car with a suspected drug dealer was sentenced Monday to 2 1/2 years in jail after admitting to narcotics and conspiracy charges.

Amena K. Smith, 37, was arrested in October 2014 as the result of an investigation conducted by Pittsfield Police and other members of the Berkshire County Drug Task Force, according to Assistant Berkshire District Attorney Richard Locke.

Authorities surveilled the car in which Smith was riding and observed it make several brief stops in Pittsfield until police believed they had accumulated enough probable cause to pull the car over.

Police took Smith and the driver of the vehicle, Richard Holliman, into custody and searched the pair's Hamlin Street apartment.

Smith pleaded guilty in Berkshire Superior Court to charges of possession of cocaine and possession of morphine — both with intent to distribute — and two corresponding counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Judge John Agostini sentenced her to 2 1/2 years in jail and placed her probation for three years, beginning when she is released.

Holliman, who was the driver, also was also arrested on charges of cocaine trafficking, possession with intent to distribute a Class A drug and two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws. He is being held on $100,000 bail.

Holliman's trial was expected to begin in November, but it has been rescheduled. As of Monday afternoon no specific date had yet been set.

The investigation was conducted by members of the Pittsfield, Great Barrington, Dalton and North Adams Police Departments and state troopers assigned to the District Attorney's Office and members of the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force.

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